Congressmen seek Medal of Honor for Vietnam War pilot from Mountain Top

March 23, 2026

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Robert J. Graham assumed he might die in Vietnam in the spring 1966. Then he was sure he would.

Then he didn’t when it seemed inevitable.

Graham, 91, is credited with saving thousands of U.S. troops during hundreds of combat missions during his four tours of duty in Vietnam.

The Nuangola man already has a Silver Star medal for his heroics during the Vietnam War, but now the region’s congressmen, U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan and Dan Meuser, are looking for more. Bresnahan and Meuser are trying to get Graham’s award upgraded to the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest decoration.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Robert J. Graham assumed he might die in Vietnam in the spring 1966. Then he was sure he would.

Then he didn’t when it seemed inevitable.

Graham, 91, is credited with saving thousands of U.S. troops during hundreds of combat missions during his four tours of duty in Vietnam.

“Hundreds of American lives were at stake that day. I agreed to attack knowing I would not come out alive — my one life was more than a fair trade for saving hundreds of my fellow Americans,” Graham said. “The men on the ground that day are the real heroes. I was just doing my job.”

After retiring from the military, Graham founded Riggs Asset Management, an SEC-registered investment advisory firm based in Dallas. His memoir, “One of the Few: A True Account of Courage and Stepping into the Fight,” recounts his military service.

“My father’s story is one of extraordinary courage, but what defines him is not a single mission — it is a lifetime of putting others first,” said Elizabeth Graham, chief operating officer of Riggs Asset Management. “That same commitment to serving others is the foundation on which this firm was built. We are deeply grateful to WVIA for telling his story with the dignity it deserves, and we are honored that his Silver Star is being considered for the Medal of Honor.”

Born in Scranton, Graham and his family later moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey, before he entered the military. After the military, he and his family decided to retired to Luzerne County.

During the documentary, Graham said he always felt serving others rather than self was the most important thing — whether in the military or life in general.

“Who do you fight for? The answer is the guy next to you,” Graham said.

Bresnahan said Graham’s service was an extraordinary call to duty.

“Colonel Graham’s actions during the battle at Tay Ninh Province were a clear case of honor and courage far beyond the call of duty,” Bresnahan said. “With his plane nearly destroyed and enemy forces overwhelming our troops, he chose to continue the mission, breaking through adverse weather and heavy fire so that hundreds of American lives could be saved. His quick decision-making and relentless determination made all the difference on one of the Vietnam War’s darkest days. His actions on that day, and throughout his career, represent the very best of our military. He has more than earned our nation’s highest honor.”